CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus: Biggest cities deserted as only 17% of staff return to the office

London has not returned to life despite the easing of lockdown
London has not returned to life despite the easing of lockdown
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Fears are growing over the future of city centres after the latest figures show that the number of workers returning to offices has not increased since June.

Some city centres have even had the numbers back at their desks fall as staff take their August holidays.

Analysis of mobile phone data shows that early this month 17 per cent of people had returned to work in the 63 biggest cities, the same proportion as at the end of June. The headline figure masks regional variations. More people have returned to offices in towns such as Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where 40 per cent of staff are back. In London, however, only 13 per cent have returned with the government struggling to persuade civil servants back despite encouragement